As you may very well know, a sprained ankle can be a pretty painful condition.
But even worse, if it’s left untreated it can end up causing you chronic pain and instability over the years to come.
This being said – if you’re suffering from an ankle sprain right now and don’t know what steps to take, read on.
A sprained ankle is actually a stretching injury to one or more of the 4 ligaments around the ankle joint.
If you aren’t familiar with the medical terminology, a ligament is simply a band of tissue that connects one bone to another around a joint.
The 4 ligaments around your ankle joint are called the anterior talo-fibular, calancaneo-fibular, posterior talo-fibular and deltoid ligaments.
There are different types of ankle sprains, ranging from mild to very severe.
The severity of the sprain usually depends upon how the injury occurred.
Did you trip and fall? Did you twist your ankle on uneven ground?
Did you land hard on your ankle or did your ankle just give out while walking?
Depending on your answers to these questions, you may be experiencing everything from minor pain, bruising, swelling, and redness to serve pain and the inability to even move your ankle joint.
In order to get you feeling better as quickly as possible, there are several options you can try. Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of them.
This stands for “Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation”, and is a great option for minor sprains caused by less-severe injuries.
If you don’t feel that you’re in need of immediate medical attention, try this course of action which is known to reduce ankle swelling, help with the pain and improve your mobility.
Keep in mind that when you elevate your foot, be sure that it is in a position that is higher than your heart. Resting your foot on a chair (with it below your heart) will not be sufficient enough to help.
When taken at higher doses, NSAIDs often reduce inflammation and can lessen the pain that you’re feeling.
However, because taking too many NSAIDs can cause bleeding in the stomach, always ask a healthcare professional about the correct dosage before you start a regimen.
Taking weight off your ankle while at the same time allowing for some range of motion may help your ankle to heal faster. This will usually lessen the pain you’re feeling as well.
According to a Dutch study, participants who had sprained their ankles were about half as likely to suffer a second sprain when they wore a brace, compared to those who only got neuromuscular training.
Check with your podiatrist to see if an ankle brace is a good option for your injury.
Physical therapy can be instrumental in getting you back on your feet again.
If you visit a podiatrist, he or she can prescribe physical therapy as part of your treatment plan.
Because injured ligaments will often form scar tissue if they don’t get enough movement, a physical therapist can work with you to stretch and strengthen the ankle.
Never underestimate the amount of relief custom molded orthotics can bring you!
As stated on Foot Vitals, a foot health information website, they help restore your ability to walk, run, and jump by reducing pain and swelling, and they increase the stability of unstable joints and provide better arch support.
If you think custom molded orthotics may be for you, make an appointment with a podiatrist and get started on the road to recovery.
High power laser therapy can bring much needed pain relief as well as speed along your ankle’s healing process.
Devices such as the Diowave Class IV High Power Therapeutic Laser provide non-surgical treatments that can stimulate tissue growth and repair, while decreasing pain and inflammation.
The best part about high power laser therapy is that it’s side-effect free and pain-free!
Although treatments are not typically covered by health insurance, you can speak to your podiatrist about pricing and payment options.
PRP is an option for repairing sprained ankles at any stage of treatment.
By separating red blood cells and plasma from your own blood, podiatrists can inject PRP into the ankle area where it works wonders to start the healing process.
Two or three treatments are typically needed to see success; however, sometimes more may be necessary.
Like high power laser therapy, PRP is not usually covered by health insurance — so you will want to speak with your podiatrist about pricing.
If your sprained ankle hasn’t responded well to conservative treatments, you may want to try AminoFix Injectable.
AminoFix is a human amniotic membrane graft that has been used for more than 100 years to help reduce inflammation and scar tissue as well as heal tissue tears.
It comes in the form of powder that is mixed with an anesthetic for injection into the sprained ankle.
Side effects include redness and tenderness at the injection site, but only last for 2 to 3 days.
Your podiatrist can evaluate you to see if AminoFix is a good option for you.
By trying any of these treatments, you should be on your way to recovery from an ankle sprain in no time at all.
Always remember that you should see a podiatrist if you experience any complications or want to try some of the less-conservative treatments mentioned above.
After all, podiatrists are there to make sure your foot and ankle health is always in check!
If you live in or around the Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia Metro area, give us a call to schedule an appointment or have your questions answered at 301-937-5666. Or simply sill out the form on the top right of this page.
